Razgatlioglu’s future announcement comes simply weeks after he tested a Yamaha MotoGP bike, fuelling hypothesis that the Turkish rider might be in line for a grand prix transfer with the Japanese marque.
It was a take a look at attended by Yamaha senior administration, although in the course of the Americas Grand Prix weekend Lin Jarvis prompt Razgatlioglu’s signing could be unlikely.
“The most important drawback I’d say for us anyway is whether or not we’ve a spot, as a result of ideally… we’ve solely obtained two bikes on the grid, I feel it’s troublesome for us to get a satellite tv for pc staff on the grid subsequent yr,” Jarvis mentioned. “So, we may have two spots solely and each of these two spots we are going to want any person who’s going to be quick right away, and maybe Toprak will want extra time to stand up to hurry.”
It is unlikely at that stage in early April Jarvis’ feedback have been linked to Razgatlioglu’s just lately introduced BMW swap. In line with one in all Motorsport.com’s German colleagues within the WSBK paddock, no provide had been made by BMW on the time of the Barcelona spherical in early Might.
In a Yamaha press launch, Razgatlioglu alluded to “an opportunity” to go to MotoGP – however didn’t really feel just like the bike suited as a lot as a Superbike does, and so he has elected to proceed in WSBK with BMW.
Simply how massive that “probability” was is unclear, and possibly unlikely. As Jarvis acknowledged, Yamaha in all probability gained’t have a satellite tv for pc staff in 2024 and can want a plug-in-and-play second rider at its manufacturing facility squad. That’s a seat at present occupied by Franco Morbidelli, who has struggled since stepping as much as the manufacturing facility squad in the direction of the tip of 2021. If it gained’t be him, Pramac’s Jorge Martin has been linked.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pata Yamaha WorldSBK
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Regardless, Razgatlioglu’s choice to remain in WSBK was met with widespread disappointment as a long-asked query has gone unanswered: simply how good would he have been in MotoGP?
Most individuals will again the Turkish celebrity and his means. Nonetheless, his two-day Jerez take a look at outing with Yamaha didn’t precisely set the world on hearth. Whereas two days isn’t precisely a large period of time to regulate to a motorcycle that’s fully totally different to what he’s used to, ending the take a look at virtually a second shy of Yamaha’s take a look at rider Cal Crutchlow (whose programme is mostly fairly unfold out throughout a yr) wasn’t a fantastic job software.
With time, nevertheless, there’s no doubting Razgatlioglu’s expertise would have seen him determine it out. Sadly, it’s time Yamaha doesn’t have, and there’s no assure that in 2025 it is going to achieve a satellite tv for pc squad. Valentino Rossi’s staff has been linked quite a few instances to this position, with the MotoGP legend current changing into an official model ambassador. However, given the present kind information in MotoGP, it’s arduous to see him being motivated to ditch Ducati (with which his staff has gained twice already in 2023 and is only one level off the championship lead) for a Yamaha package deal that’s nowhere close to title-fit.
Thus, Razgatlioglu’s choice to remain in WSBK, coupled with Yamaha’s present uncertainty over its satellite tv for pc staff state of affairs, could properly have shut the door on any WSBK rider making the transfer to MotoGP for a while.
The final riders to have come over from WSBK to MotoGP full time have been Eugene Laverty and Loris Baz in 2015, with the latter lasting the longest by way of to the tip of 2017. Each Baz and Laverty’s greatest finishes have been fourths. Since then, there have solely been sporadic appearances from WSBK riders in MotoGP. Lorenzo Savadori did contest a component marketing campaign in 2021 with Aprilia, attaining a better of 14th, however was bounced again into his take a look at rider position when Maverick Vinales was signed.
However the final one to have come over efficiently was Crutchlow, who made his MotoGP debut in 2011 with Tech3 after a yr in WSBK in 2010 with Yamaha. Crutchlow ultimately went on to win three grands prix.
Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki Racing Workforce WSBK
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
For years, six-time WSBK champion Jonathan Rea was linked to a full-time transfer to MotoGP however turned down a number of affords. That door has firmly closed, and through his dominance it was thought anybody even excited about coming to MotoGP needed to beat him. Between 2015 and 2020, no one did, till Razgatlioglu lastly dethroned him in 2021. However except Razgatlioglu proves profitable at BMW (and that’s a troublesome ask), the MotoGP paddock will shortly lose curiosity.
And if MotoGP loses curiosity in Razgatlioglu, it’s not going to turn out to be enthused by anybody else on that grid. Reigning world champion Alvaro Bautista has already had his time in MotoGP, as has Danilo Petrucci; Rea has made his choice, whereas Baz’s alternative has handed.
Michael van der Mark was in one thing of an analogous place to Razgatlioglu and hailed as a possible MotoGP rider. However he didn’t do a lot on his two-race run with Tech3 Yamaha in 2017, ending outdoors of the factors: 16th in Malaysia, 56.397s off the win, and 52.134s off the victory in 17th in Valencia.
Alex Lowes faired a bit higher in his two-race run with Tech3 in 2016, ending 13th on the British Grand Prix – 40.1s off the win, however solely a second behind full-timer Eugene Laverty. Lowes failed to complete the San Marino GP.
Of the present WSBK crop outdoors of Razgatlioglu, the one viable candidate to have a imprecise shot at a MotoGP journey is Remy Gardner – who, after one season with Tech3 KTM, was booted out of his seat. However the a lot shorter WSBK calendar and common bitterness he has about his dismissal by KTM on the finish of 2022 has in all probability altered his personal ambitions.
Razgatlioglu may properly have been the rider who opened the door once more.
However given the overall lack of appropriate candidates and the dwindling quantity of success WSBK riders have had coming to MotoGP – coupled with the groundswell of expertise arising the grand prix ranks now – it’s arduous to image anybody from WSBK being given the chance now for the foreseeable future.
